BEST FEMALE VOCAL EVER

I'd give it to Linda Ronstadt for her versatility--so many pop styles plus mariachi and Gilbert & Sullivan.  Just amazing.

Holy Smokes!  Choosing between Ella, Aretha, Sarah Vaughan?  I can't do it.  

Was always favorable to Big Maybelle!

Wendy O. Williams-'Plasmatics'

+1 Keith Partridge :-)

Karen Carpenter 

Linda Ronstadt. Male vocalist? Keith Partridge  ;>)

Whitney Houston

Cass Elliott, Diane schurr, Carly Simon, in no particular order

Jperry Jane Fielding kind of reminds me of Margaret Whiting who was it seems a bit more famous than some of the now forgotten girls from the 50's in your link, thanks for that!. Check out "Time After Time" by Margaret very 50's style in delivery typical of white female singers from that era. All these are definitely worth checking out in contrast with today's song stylists and arrangements.

**If** the question is not intended to encompass opera and classical singers, and **if** the question is not intended to take repertoire into account (those things are not made clear in the OP), my vote goes to Connie Francis.

Regards,
-- Al

@tubegroover "For me, my favorite, range, tone, improv ability which is bottomless and sheer listenability, Sarah Vaughn"

+1.  Couldn't agree more

Randy Crawford, "Imagine"

Joan Sutherland, Cuckoo in Siegfried

Marianne Mellnas, Julsang

Joan Baez, Silkie

Patsy Cline

Marriane Faithful, after the booze.

Young Judy Garland, before the booze.

Aretha

Linda Ronstadt . And her band was good too. Together they kicked Butt ....

Jennifer Warnes: the Well, Famous Blue Raincoat, Another Time Another Place. Her voice, timing and instrumentation (tree trunk drum, 19th century accordion...)
All vocalists mentioned are excellent. Also Joan Baez

Billie Holiday !

Well I'm not too sure that time forgot Ella or Sarah but give it time as all things must pass. Thanks for the link Jperry.  

P.S.  Didn't ever really appreciate Doris Day as a kid, thought her movies, particularly with Rock Hudson were really obnoxious but there was one with Jimmy Stewart "The man who knew too much" which I saw later and kindled an interest in her. She was a really fine singer I must say, my mother loved her and I never knew why until I did.  

The singers in that article, I've never heard of but will surely check out, thanks again for the link!


  

Yeah, I like Iris. 

Tammy Wynette, runner up Brenda Lee. Newcomer Iris Dement (listen to "Walkin' Home").

tubegroover

You might like the article linked below if you haven't already seen it.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-girl-singers-that-time-forgot/

Actually, there is a contestant: a howling cat. 

No contest, Yoko Ono.

Billie Holiday

Eva Cassidy!

Cass Elliot.

George Gobel in drag.

DeKay

Price was great alright , But Anderson was God's vocalist on earth .

Yup.  Or, Leontyne Price, from Laurel, Mississippi, no less. 

The  best that ever lived was Marion Anderson !

Eva!

Barbra Streisand 

For me, my favorite, range, tone, improv ability which is bottomless and sheer listenability, Sarah Vaughn. Can't argue with any of the above, love Ella too for many of the same reasons as Sarah but less to degree, Sarah was a true genius both vocally and artistically. Not familiar with Jane Fielding but will surely check her out!   And Eva Cassity died much too young. Not to forget Dinah Washington, amazing songstress who also left us too soon. 

Overall vocalist, I don't know, but I can certainly pick a favorite song/vocalist combo. Eva Cassidy's version of Over the Rainbow. Not a tough call for me!

Ella Fitzgerald - Nights in Tunisia
Jane Fielding - Round Midnight

tough call but put a gun to my head and I have to say Aretha.